Easy Sautéed Asparagus

This is an easy asparagus recipe the whole family will love. Sautéing the asparagus quickly with garlic and ginger allows the grassy sweet flavor to shine through. It’s a delicious vegetable dish you can make in 10 minutes.

I get excited each spring when asparagus show up in the market and I can eat asparagus regularly. Asparagus taste best this time of year.  You can get Peruvian asparagus all year round but they don’t have the same bright, clean, earthy flavor.  Now is the time to embrace the spring and eat, eat, eat asparagus.

Sautéing asparagus is one of the easiest ways to prepare it. Grilling and roasting are also good if you have time to heat your grill or oven. Sautéing is the fastest.

Ingredients

This is call Easy Sautéed Asparagus because you only need 4 ingredients, plus salt and pepper to make this dish. This is what you need.

Asparagus – Choose pencil-thin asparagus for this dish. When buying asparagus choose smooth glossy spears with tightly closed tips. The bottom ends should look freshly cut.  Eat your asparagus right away, the fresher the better.  If you store them, stand the spears upright in an inch of water in the refrigerator. If you can only find thick asparagus, cut off the top 2 inches, the tips, then cut the rest of the stalk in half.

Garlic and Ginger – These aromatics add a mild Asian flavor to the asparagus. Fresh is best. Peel, and finely mince or grate.

Avocado Oil – I like avocado oil because of its high smoking point which limits oxidation. We saute this dish on high and medium/high.

Sea salt and fresh pepper.

Optional Toppings – Toasted sesame seeds sprinkled just before serving give the asparagus a nice crunch. Fresh herbs like cilantro, basil or mint are also good as toppings.

How to Sauté Asparagus

The key to cooking fresh asparagus to make sure they’re tender, but not soft. You’ll want to watch the asparagus closely as it cooks. As soon as the color turns bright green, they can be removed from the heat. 

Remove woody ends: It’s best to trim off the woody ends because they’re difficult to chew.

Cut asparagus into thirds. They are best when the pieces are about 2-2 1/2″ long.

Don’t overcrowd the pan. Use a large pan so they saute evenly.

Heat the oil until it’s almost smoking. Add the asparagus, salt and pepper, making sure the asparagus is coated and glistening with oil. Sautéing in hot oil allows the asparagus to cook quickly without getting mushy. Stir the asparagus regularly as they cook.

Add ginger and garlic at the end. They only need to cook for a minute.

Toppings: Serve just as they are from the pan or top with sesame seed or fresh herbs for additional flavor and texture.

How Long to Sauté Asparagus

The entire cooking process takes 2-3 minutes Watch the asparagus closely as they cook.

Stir continuously to cook them evenly. As soon as the color turns bright green, remove them from the heat. 

Is Asparagus Good For You?

Asparagus is a natural diuretic, which helps rid the body of excess fluid. It cleanses our body naturally in the spring helping to flush out toxins in kidneys. It’s also good for lowering blood pressure

Asparagus is a natural prebiotic. It contains high levels of the indigestible fiber inulin, which feeds healthy bacteria like bifidobacteria and lactobacilli for a healthy microbiome, which means better digestion.

Asparagus has high levels of B vitamins and inflammation-fighting antioxidants for our digestive tract, promoting better nutrient absorption.

I hope you love this Easy Sautéed Asparagus recipe. It’s quick and easy with a vibrant taste, packed with prebiotics and delicious.

If you like this recipe, try these other easy vegetable recipes:

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Easy Sautéed Asparagus

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An easy asparagus recipe sautéd quickly with garlic and ginger allowing the fresh sweet asparagus flavor to shine through. It’s a delicious vegetable dish you can make in 10 minutes.

  • Author: Ingrid DeHart
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Vegetable, Side Dish
  • Method: Saute
  • Cuisine: Paleo, Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound pencil-thin asparagus
  • 2 Tablespoon avocado oil
  • Sea salt and pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • Optional toppings: Toasted sesame seeds, handful of basil, mint or cilantro leaves

Instructions

  1. Cut or snap off the tough bottoms of each asparagus spear. Cut the asparagus into thirds, so you have 2-2 ½ inch lengths.
  2. In a large heavy bottom skillet, heat the oil until nearly smoking. Add the asparagus, season generously with salt and pepper and stir well, making sure the asparagus is coated and glistening with oil.
  3. Continue to saute over high heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring regularly, until the asparagus are just barely cooked.
  4. Add the garlic and ginger and saute while stirring for 30 seconds-1 minutes more, until the asparagus are bright green.
  5. Remove from the heat.
  6. Transfer to a platter. Sprinkle with toppings if desired.
  7. Leftovers keep for 1 day in the refrigerator. 

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